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Denver Broncos | News

Next Day Notebook: Marshall's return, Anderson's big play

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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – ** The Broncos' 2014 season ended on Sunday at the hands of the Colts. Take a look at some key plays from the season finale.

BRANDON MARSHALL RETURNS

In the 2013 season, Brandon Marshall had one tackle. This year, he was able to lead the team with 110 combined tackles. T.J. Ward was second on the team with 74.

The Broncos knew how valuable he was when he helped the team rank No. 2 in the NFL in rushing defense. After a foot injury Marshall suffered in Week 15 against the Chargers, he missed the Broncos' final two games of the season, including the loss to the Bengals where they gave up a season-high rushing yards (207).

But Marshall made key plays last night, finishing with six tackles (tied for the team-high). He left the field on multiple occasions throughout the matchup as he was still struggling with his foot injury and Todd Davis filling in.

"I want to play for my guys and I played as much as I really could today," Marshall said after the game. "I tried to battle through it, which I did. Too bad we came up short, but it is what it is."

Marshall said he feels he proved himself this season as an every-down linebacker.

"I see myself as a well-rounded linebacker that can play the run and play the pass well and can pass rush pretty decent," Marshall said on Monday. "So I think if I just get off blocks a little faster, a little better, maybe step up my pass rush a little bit. I think I had pretty good man coverage, but obviously, just keep working on that.

"I think if I just keep doing all that stuff, because my tackling got way better, so if I just keep working on all those things, then I'll be good."

C.J. ANDERSON'S FOURTH-DOWN DASH

C.J. Anderson broke out in the Broncos' Week 10 win over the Raiders. He had a then career-high 90 yards on 13 carries. His 51-yard catch-and-run touchdown, in which he broke multiple tackles and darted across the field for the score, was one of the signature moments of his standout season.

On the last play of the third quarter on Sunday, on fourth-and-1, Anderson made another signature play. To keep the Broncos alive, he broke three tackles and darted across the line for the first down.

"I just tried to focus on one rep at a time and keep pushing and keep grinding and just try to make plays when I got the opportunity to help my team," Anderson said of the run. "Obviously I didn't make enough tonight."

He finished Sunday's game with 80 yards on 18 carries. In the Broncos' previous six games, he had just one output of less than 83 yards.

"It was just tough to do anything today," Anderson said. "They made more plays and me, individually, I didn't make enough plays and when you don't make enough plays in the playoffs, you've got to pay attention to little details. If you don't make enough plays, you tend to lose games and that is what happened tonight."

RAHIM MOORE'S PICK

Rahim Moore had his fifth pick of the season on Sunday. His first two interceptions of the season came against Luck in Week 1. It was a momentous game for Moore as it was the first two-interception game of this career and it was his debut after missing the final six games of the 2013 regular season and all three playoff games due to injury.

On Sunday, with just over five minutes left in the third quarter, Luck targeted Donte Moncrief deep down the right side. Moore made a nice play on the ball and got the Broncos the ball back.

Bradley Roby also had an interception in the second quarter, joining Quinton Carter as the only Bronco rookies with a postseason pick. The Broncos tacked on field goals after both picks.

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